Day 1: Monday, February 3 – Beating jet lag in the city
First impressions of Auckland: beautiful skyline running along the coast, city feel minus the chaos
Walked around the port and took the ferry to Devonport, a quiet suburb to the north. Public library had gorgeous architecture. Short hike up Mount Victoria- highest volcano on Auckland’s North Shore with 360 degree views.
Lunch at Devon Wharf: oysters and hummus plate. Then ferry back to Auckland.
Evening stroll around Wynyard Quarter, newly renovated industrial area and quite busy for a Monday. We stopped by Baduzzi for meatball and beer. The restaurant manager was American expat from Connecticut, wife from Michigan. Advice: get in the water as much as possible.
Day 2: Tuesday, February 4 – Run, Kayak, Beach
Started the day with an 8 mile run along Tamaki Drive. Breakfast at Hotel then a 2 hour drive Auckland to Whangamata.
Made it to our 1pm Kayak tour to Whenuakura Wildlife Sanctuary (Donut Island, Whangamata).
Lunch at Tukish Kebab and then a 1 hr drive to Hahei. Original plan was Hot Water Beach, where you can dig a hole in the sand and create your own hot tub but we just missed the tide. Nevertheless, we relaxed on beach (number two for the day). Then 1.5 hour Drive to Coromandel town.
Checked into Airbnb and got unsolicited lessons about how Americans don’t know how to live life = too much work not enough travel and terrible presidents but hey nothing we didn’t know.
Pizza for dinner at Umu, with kumara (sweet potatoes) and Capsicum (pepper) drizzle. Dessert with Airbnb crew. Apparently in Switzerland you calendar your life out but with predictability comes safety and boredom. Tasmania, India, and Sri Lanka over Thailand recommneded as “must-go” destinations.
New Zealand 